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Molina gets hit in first Rangers at-bat

Molina gets hit in first Rangers at-bat

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ARLINGTON -- Newly acquired catcher Bengie Molina said that he is happy to be with the Rangers and hopes to help push them to their first division title since 1999. He got a hit in his first at-bat on Friday, finishing 1-for-4 during a 5-3 loss to the White Sox.

"I'm very excited, very excited. I can't wait to go out there and see the guys," Molina said prior to facing the White Sox. "If you see the lineup, most of these guys are All-Stars. It's an amazing feeling. Going through the lineup, I couldn't believe it. I want to be a part of that and, hopefully, everything will work out."

Molina, who was traded to the Rangers from the Giants for reliever Chris Ray and Minor Leaguer Michael Main, said that he's eager to work with the Rangers' young pitching staff, much in the same way he did with the Giants' All-Star rotation.

"I'm not here to make a miracle happen or anything like that," Molina said. "I'm just here to put my little input on whatever I know about the game, and whatever I can do to help the team, so be it. I'm not going to try and do too much other than what I know."

Molina, in the six-hole on Friday against the White Sox, said that he's excited to get started with his new team despite the sudden trade.

"You've got to turn the page because they didn't want you there. I'm not necessarily talking about the players, but the ownership and GM obviously traded me," Molina said. "You've got to turn the page, and you've got to see the positives. The positive is we're in first place, and we're trying to win the whole thing. I'm just coming here to help. That's the way you've got to see it."

Added Rangers manager Ron Washington: "I think when you come to a team that's making strides and looks like they have the opportunity to do something, you're going to conform. I just told Bengie to just be Bengie. I don't want him to come up in here and think he has to put on some kind of show for us. The good thing about our clubhouse is those guys are who they are, and I want him to be who he is."

Molina said he first got the news when he was flying with his former team.

"It was kind of weird. We were flying, and I was sleeping on the plane," Molina said. "Everybody started coming over to me, saying goodbye and saying how great of a teammate I was. I was like, 'Wow, I got released.'"

Despite the change in scenery, the Rangers' division is a familiar spot for Molina. Prior to his four-year run with the Giants, the catcher spent eight seasons in the AL West with the Angels.

"It helps, but at the same time, it's been so long," Molina said. "When I played in the West, it was a long time ago, and hitters might be different now."

But Molina says he's not worried about the Angels or the Giants and is looking forward to working with the Rangers' rotation.

"I'm the type of guy that's never been selfish," Molina said. "I never consider my numbers. I'm up to the pitchers and try to help them out."